Fishing Reports

It truly blows me away is how many people are asking about Shad this early in the run. Fortunately, the Shad Prince is in the shop everyday and he loves to talk about “the poor mans tarpon”. If you want to know more about the history of Shad, how to catch a Shad, what to do with a Shad once you've caught one or why you should even care about Shad, Nick has three presentations scheduled over the next few of weeks. The first one will be this Saturday here in the shop at 10:30.

Speaking of invasive species, bass fishing is warming up and carp fishing has been off the hook lately in some of the backwaters. I’m sure the Columbia and Willamette rivers being flooded by runoff keep the fish in the shallow side sloughs where they are easier to catch.

The Deschutes has still been the place to be and the big bugs continue to be the focus. I talked to Brian Silvey the other day and this is what he had to say:

“Stoneflies are going strong in Maupin today. We probably have a few more days until they are all gone. Green Drakes have been hatching almost every day, but not much action on the surface. We've been getting them on Drake nymphs or emergers.”

I would think the Salmonfly hatch will be going on for about another week or so in the Warm Springs area if the weather stays as forecast. If you haven’t hit it yet you still have time to get in on the action.

If the Salmonfly madness isn’t your thing, the Green Drake hatch on the Metolius should be on the upswing. These big Mayflies typically make their appearance around mid-day and the show will be especially good if there is some cloud cover. PMDs and Caddis are keeping things interesting until the Drakes take the stage.

Reliable sources report that the Cascade Lakes have been fishing very very well and offer plenty of opportunities for solitude if you get away from the big campgrounds. Some kind of leech or bugger pattern is a great choice. If you've not tried our Royal Treatment exclusive, the Double-Bug, check it out. It's a Mitch Moyer pattern that has been lighting it up on stillwaters across the Northwest.

If you just can’t put down your the two-handed rods or you’ve got that Steelhead urge there are fresh summer Steelhead entering the Clack and Sandy as well as a few spring Chinook. Some guys have even been getting them on floating lines with smaller summer patterns, but Skagits with winter stuff are still working as shown by the photo above. That's our friend Rob Crandall who took a "busman's holiday" between Salmonfly trips and scored this hot summer fish.

Hopefully, you get a chance to get out to fish this weekend. If not stop by the shop, have some homemade cookies, check out all the cool outdoor gear and listen to Nick wax poetic about Shad. Maybe you’ll catch the bug too.

While the consensus is that the Salmonfly hatch did not live up to it’s billing, not all was doom and gloom over on the Deschutes. Anglers plying the river in the later stages of this major emergence were rewarded with some memorable fish. The dandy Redside pictured above was captured by our youth ambassador Ian Wildermuth on a drift with Capt. Skittles. This image missed last week’s edition due to the overflow of Shadness.

The past weekend’s weather was fairly challenging with cooler temps and a bit of a breeze. Forecasts look better for the coming week after we get through this damp lead up to the weekend. Today the weather in Maupin is supposed to be cloudy and hovering around 71F. That sounds like a Mayfly kind of day to me.

I chatted with Brian Silvey Tuesday evening and he reported PMDs and Caddis were keeping things very interesting on the town run and the Pine Tree to Mack’s drift. Competition has been light since the Big Bugs bugged out, and he has been able to fish just about anywhere he’s wanted to. He even exercised a few fish on the lee side of Joel’s Island the other day with a couple friends of mine. Brian noted that the snack bar and t-shirt shop have not yet been rebuilt on the island since the winter high water, and he filed a formal complaint regarding the mooring facilities. Mr. Silvey has a few days available over the coming weeks and will include a personal tour of the island if requested. I’m graciously waiving all landing fees for the next three weeks, so give Brian a call.

Over on the Metolius, the whispered report is that Green Drakes are showing when conditions are right. This mystical hatch favors cloudy days, but in some cases will make an appearance when the sun drops behind the trees. Don’t pack up and head home too early. PMDs and the misc. small Mayfly hatch are adding to the menu.

Meanwhile, the Shad Madness continues with plenty of scales flying in the shadow of Willamette Falls. Grabs by Springers have been adding to the excitement of crashing waters and barking Sea lions. Shad fishing can be a full on sensory overload even on slow days. Add 30 to 50 hook-ups a day and soon you have a boatload of happy anglers.

Speaking of Springers, Steelhead swingers have been intercepting a few brutes as they cast, step, cast, down the Clackamas River. Cooler cloudy days are prefect for this past-time. Keep an eye pealed for a ponytailed bamboo caster teasing fish with skaters. He's fairly harmless, but his affliction is contagious. Stay back.

Rose Festival weather has returned and looks to be hanging out here for at least a week, maybe more. Cloudy skies and a splash of rain here and there shouldn’t stop us from getting out and taking advantage of the season. Just like last week there is plenty of fishing to be done if one was so inclined.

Escaping to the east side of the state has the advantage of pleasant temperatures and a better chance at staying dry. While the Salmonfly hatch may be over for this year, there has been plenty of Caddis and PMDs to keep the Redsides snacking. Green Drakes are also a real possibility if the conditions and location are right. Steelhead junkies are watching dam counts waiting not so patiently for summer fish to return. I will tell you that there is at least one fresh summer Steelhead in the Deschutes right now. Do you feel lucky?

The Metolius has the attention of the guys in the shop because of a big green Mayfly. Our Fly Czar, Josh Linn, has collected an impressive array of patterns for the Green Drake hatch and both he and Nick have been field testing them. While the Drakes may be the focus, there have been good showings of PMDs, Caddis and the famous misc. small Mayfly hatch. A lone Goldenstone was even spotted looking for a date this past weekend, but it’s a bit early to get excited about that one. This is a great time to discover the Metolius.

I’ve tried to avoid it, but it has gotten too big to ignore any longer. The Shad run is here, big-time. If you really want to get someone hooked on fly fishing, this is the fishery for you. While the America Shad is an invasive species, it has become a popular target for anglers this time of year. Millions of these overgrown Herring are swimming in the Willamette and Columbia at this very moment. Millions. Water Time Outfitters is running two boats daily with up to three time slots. Our own Nick Wheeler “The Shad Prince” snuck out for an hour with Rob yesterday and boated over 30 fish. He rolled back into the shop with a bigger grin that normal if you can believe that. There are places you can fish for this “poor man’s Tarpon” from shore, but only if you like company, lots of company. Save yourself the hassle and call Rob at Water Time Outfitters. The Shad run continues through June.